Shaft-bearing for elastic-fluid turbines.



6 0 9 1 x3 2 T .G 0 D E T N E T A P R om 7 4 0O 8 an N SHAFT BEARING FORELA'STIG FLUID TURBINES.

APPLICATION FILED MABA. 1904.

3 SHEETS-SHEET. 1.

f Ifivenboi'? Richard "H Ribs,

Wi @h esvsdes v. I 'aqu y PATENTED OCT. 23, 1906.

Y R. HQRIGE. SHAFT BEARING FOR ELASTIC FLUID TURBINES..

F ON FILE AB 904 w n ,y i 9H t. W .m la, h b ,p

' Wibhess e s: v I v UNITED STATES,- ATENT OFFICE.

RICHARD H. RICE, OF SWAM-PSCOTT. MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR TO GENERALELECTRIC COMPANY,- A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

.SHA-FT-BEARING FOR'E LASTIC-FLUID TURBINES.

Patented Oct. 23, 1906.

. To aZ l 'fwho m, it may concern:

Be it known'that I, RICHARD H. RICE, a"

citizen of the United States, residing at Swampscott, in the county ofEssex, State of.

Massachusetts, have invented certain new. anduseful Improvements inShaft-Bearin s:

for Elastic-Fluid Turbines, .of which the f0 lowing is a specification.The present invention relates to shaft-i bearings, such as step orthrust bearings, andmore especially tothose which support a tur-.-.bineshaft in a vertical position and sustain all, or substantiall all,ofthe weightlof the' moving parts. W en bearings 'of this char-j acterare employed to supportheavy struc-, tures or structures having"relatively high surfacespeed. atthe bearing, or both, it isnecessary tosupply: them with'oil or other: lubricant under forced circulation andat relatively high pr'essures,-and tl'iis'is especially true where afilm of lubricant-is maintained at all timesfor se 'arating therelatively he adjacent surfaces of; the bearings are usually scraped to'ive them .assmo'oth a finish as pos s ble. pressure on the lubricantfalls belowfa certainpoint,itis evident that'the bearing-surfacesmovable surfaces.

will contact, and since the pressure is too low tomaintain the partsseparated it will be insufficient to force lubricant throu h the ad-'.jacent surfaces, ,although a sma 1 amount. may work through, due-totherelative rotation' of the arts. It is obvious that when f the bearingcome to ether and the turbine continues to run it wil injure the theparts .0

surfaces of the .step or-thru'st bearing blocks.

The contacting of these blockswears a substantial amount of metal off ofthe opposing 1 surfaces, besides-leaving them rough. Moreover, it is onlpossible underthese conditions.

to continue t e operation fora short time.

' fciallythose used for driving electric generators, and articularlywhen the load on the system is eavy, it is of the utmost impo'rtance tokeep the machines going, since the shutting down of one unitwithout asubstitute', as is generally the case, usually, if not --a lways, meanscutting off the supply oflight to consumers or power for other purposes.

. hen the" fails and also to prevent injury to the bearin -surfacesunder such circumstances.

11 carrying out my invention a bearingblockjskeyed or otherwise attachedto the shaft. When the invention is used with a thrust-bearing, theblock is located at any convenient place, and, when used with astepbearing, at one end. Assuming, for examp e, the latter illustrationof my invention, the

lower block instead of being rigidly suportcd, as is usually the case,is supported by uid under ressure. The fluid for supporting the bloc maybe the same as that used for lubricating urposes or it may be a separatesource. I consider it bestto use the lubricating fluid, since byso doingthe arrangement is much simplified. The upward movement of thelowerblock is limited to a predetermined point b means of a suitable abutmentlocated Wit in the casing. The abutment-is preferably adjustable toenable the block to be raised or lowered, so as to adjust the clearancesbetween the wheel and intermediate buckets and, also between theWheel-buckets and nozzle or nozzlesp By means of this adjustablearrangement of arts the shaft and wheels can be'raised or owered tocompensate for temperature changes, which changes may, and usually do,cause the unequal expansion of the moving and stationary parts andsometimes a war ing or twisting of the wheel itself. T e lower block issuitably guided and when the lubricatingfluid also acts as thesupportingmedium is subjected to differential pressures 'on its oppositesurfaces. is subjected to a ressure due to the incoming lubricant, whi ethe upper surface, which resents" a somewhat smaller area, is subectedfor a portion of its area to the full pres-' sure and for the remainderto a pressure In the operation of; prime movers, espe-;

which decreases gradually toward the periphery. In other words, thepressure tending to lift the block is greater than the tendency todepress it, due to the weight of the moving parts and the fluid-pressureon the upper surface. The preponderance of one ressure over the othercan be widely varied; but it should be great enough at all times toinsure the seating of the lower or movable block on the abutment. Withthis arrangement the flpressure on the abutment is equal to thedi erencein fluid-pressures on oppo- The under surface otherwise suitably locatedfor engagement with a block fixed on the shaft, is an auxiliarybearing-block which, under abnormalconditions, supports the weightof'the moving parts. It is advantageous to enlarge the upper block thatis afiixed to the shaft, .so

that it may act as a part of both the main and auxiliary bearings, sothat it reduces complication; but a separate auxiliary block can beprovided, if desired. The auxiliary block may be provided with alubricating-groove or not, as desired. In the former case it will actlike an ordinary step 'or thrust bearin and in the latter case as abrake. It will be ound advantageous to pipe this bearing to the city orother water sup ly under pressure, 'inwhich case the auxi iary bearingwill carry the load when for any reason the main bears ing fails. Whenthe pressure-on the main bearing falls below a certain point, theauxiliary bearing takes up the work. It is unnecessary that there shouldbe a complete failure of pressure.- Under abnormal conditions theauxiliary bearing-blocks are separated by a clearance which is less thanthat between the buckets or buckets and nozzle.

' The lubricant exhausting from the main or from the auxiliary bearing,or both, is collected. and discharged into a guide-bearing located abovethe step, and after lubricating the guide-bearing is returned to'thepump or reservoir.

.The main and auxiliary bearings are adjustable with respect to eachother and with respect to the block or blocks on the shaft. Theauxiliary block is carried by supports which pass through thebearing-casing and engage a platen. or equivalent device, which ismovable, to adjust the position of the block. In this manner theauxiliary bearing can be adjusted from a point outside of thebearingcasing and outside of the turbine, and this without stopping theturbine.

In order to restrict-the size'of thebearing and to sim lity itsconstruction, the main and auxiliary caring-blocks are inclosed by thesame casing andintimatel associated; but it is within the sec e of theroader features of ,my invention to' ocate the blocks differently.

The arrangement described simplifies the 'alinement .and adjustment ofparts, and

where. small clearances are employed between thebuckets and nozzles,such as .02 to 05 of an inch, this becomes a most importantconsideration. Ordinarily, in setting the parts the auxiliarybearingwould be moved into contact-and then backed off by an amountsubstantially equal to the thickness of'th'e lubricant film between themain bearing-surfaces. After the main bearing fails and the auxiliaryhearing or bearings take up the work, it or they are adjusted. to giveequal clearances between the buckets and fluid-discharging devices.

In the accom anying drawings, whichillus trate one em odiment of myinvention, Figure 1 is a partial. vertical section of an elastic-fluidturbine of the vertical-shaft type. Fig. 2 is a section through thestep-bearing taken on line 2 2 of Fig. 1. verted sectionalview taken online 3 3 of Fig. 1 and looking in the direction of the arrow. Fig. 4 isa cross-section of the bearin taken on line 4 4 of Fig. 2 looking in therection of the arrow. Fig. 5 is a sectional view taken on the line 5 5of Fig. 2 looking in the direction of the arrow, and Fig. 6 is anenlarged detail showing the means employed for supporting the auxiliarybearing.

1 represents the base of the machine containing a chamber which may ormay not be connected to a condenser, as desired, and within the chamberis located a step-bearing 1. The casing is mounted on a subbase 2, whichin turn is supported by a masonry foundation 3. Mounted above the baseis a wheel-casing 4 of suitable construction. At-

tached to the casing are intermediate buckets 5, which are separatedfrom the nozzles (not shown) and wheel-buckets 6 by a relatively smallclearance-say; for example, from .02 to .05 of an inch. The wheelbucketsGare arranged in rows and mounted on a suitable vsl lhefel, which inturn is carried by the vertical s a t 7.

Referrin to Fig. 2, the construction of the bearin wil be described indetail. 8 represents-t e bearing-casing, which is provided with a flangeon the lower end that is bolted to the under side of the wall 9 of theturbinecasing. The opening in this wall is finished and forms a meansfor centering the bearin when mounted in position. The upper and of thecasing is provided with a cover 1 0, which is bolted thereto and iscentered by means of a shoulder formed on its under surface. The covercontains two chambers in which are located carbon packing-rim s 11 and12. These prevent the entrance 0% water or moisture from thecondenser-chamber into thel ubricant, also the passage of oil into thechamber. Under normal conditions of operation steam or other fluid underpressure is supplied to the chamber containing the packing-ring 12 bythe pipe 13. The u per part of the bearing-casing is provided Wit an'internal projection 14, which is shouldered on the under side toreceive the flange 15 of the guide-bearing. This bearing is providedwith lubricant-carrying grooves 16, which Fig. 3 is an in-- IEOcommunicate with passages 17, leading into a I chamber 16, formedbetween. the bearing and the .projection on the casing. This chamber inturn communicates with the. enlar ed cylindrical chamber 18, and thelatter is rained by the pipes 19, which may or may not be connected 1together. On the lower end of the shaft and secured thereto by a key isthe upper bearing-block 20, which is provided with a small chamber 21 onits under side, which registers with a similar chamber onthe loweriliary bearing, can be made a part of the main The outer cylindrical Theworm wheel chamber 21 to the while the under side 4 block.

block or separate.

- Bolted to the under side of the casing is a base 22, which-supportsthe weight of the shaft and parts attached thereto and also the main andauxiliary step-bearing blocks. The base is chambered out centrally toreceive the hydraulicallysupported bearingblock 23, which inconstruction is similar to a piston. surface of the lower block 23 whereit engages the cylinder in the base is turned off true, and between themoving and stationary parts is a packing 23 to .prevent the escape oflubricant from the high to the low pressure side of the bearing. Theunder side of the block is provided with a chamber 24, opening into thecylinder-space, v and into which fluid under high pressure is admittedby the pipe 25 and passage in the base. The block is prevented fromturning by one ormore pins26, which are seated in the base.

The upper surface of the bearing is provided with 'a'centralchambercorresponding to that in the upper bearing-block, and thischamber communicates with the cylinder-space on the a passage 27.

faces of the block 23 are block is subjected to a greater pressure onthe under side than on the upper. This is due to three principal things:first, that the pressure gradually decreases from the wall of theperiphery of the block of the block is exposed to high pressure; second,that the central part of the block is covered by the head of thespindle, which is larger than its body, and, t This unbal' ird, thedifference in areas. anced relation as to pressures on the lower blockgives it a tendency to move upward at all times, and in order to limitthis tendency the abutment or spindle 28 is provided, hav ing anenlarged head which engages the block and a screw-threaded lower end-which receives a' nut formed on the worm-wheel 29. I mesheswith a worm30,

and as the latter is rotated by a suitable shaft the abutment is raisedor lowered, and therefore the osition of the lower block changed.Obviousfy a change in position of the lower block causes'a change inposition of the upper The spindlepasses through a sleeve 31, formed onthe under side of the base, and

between the spindle and the sleeve is a pack-.

ing for preventing the high-pressure lubricant from escaping.Surrounding the lower block and engaging with its bearing-block or adifferent one is an auxiliary bearing-block 32. This block is providedwith a lubricatinggroove on its upper surface and connected to thegroove in a manner to supply lubricant theretosuch as oil, water, orsteameis a p p base. The lower auxiliary bearing-block is supported by anumber of pins 34, spaced at suitable distances apart around theaxisof'the spindle. These pins engage with the bearingblock at theirupper ends and at the lower ends are seated on a platen 35, the latterbeing 33, which'passes upward through the.

provided with as many arms as there are pins,

as shown in Fig. 3. The auxiliary bearingblock being'located on thelowressure side of the hearing, it will usually be ound unnecessary touse ackings; but they may be used if desired. central opening throughwhich passes the screw-threaded sleeve 31, formed on the base. Mountedon the lower end of the sleeve is a nut 36, which is attached to aworm-wheel 37, and the latter meshes with and is turned by a worm. Asthe worm is rotated in one'directionor the other the platen is caused tomove up or down, as the case may be, and with it the lower auxiliarybearing-block.

Under normal operating conditions the auxiliary bearingshould beseparated from the upper bearing-block by a small clearance, whichclearance should be less than that between the revolving and stationaryparts of the turbine, such as the wheel and intermediate buckets orthenozzle and the intermediate buckets, so that if anything happens todecrease the pressure on the step-bearing to a point where it cannolonger sustain the weight-of the moving parts the work of supporting itwill fall on the auxiliary bearing, and this before the movingandstationary parts have had an opportunity to come into contact. Inadjusting the parts for normal olperation the abutment 28 should ermit'tlower block 23 to rise to a point w 1616 it will support the permit themto run free with respect to thenozzle and intermediate buckets wheresuch buckets are employed. After lubricant passes from the inlet-pipe 25to the chambers 24 and 21, thence through the space between shaft andattached parts, yet

the upper and lower blocks into the chamber in which the auxiliarybearing is located and into the chamber 40,'it flows upward throughgrooves formed in the guide-bearing and after'lubricatin'g the same isdischarged into the chamber 18, from which it is collected bythe pi es19. i I

eferring again to Fig. 1, 30 represents the worm for adjusting theposition of the lower 2 block, and 41 the shaft which actuates the thehand-wheel 38,.

worm and is turned, y located near the edgeof the subba'se. The

worm for raising and lowering the platgn vat e shaft 39,- which isprovidedwith 'a'hand' and the. auxiliary bearing is operated -,wheel,also located near the edge of the sub.-

base." By reason of this construction the.

bearing can beadjusted without trouble.

' Referring to Fig. 4, 20 represents the u er'bearing-block that'isattached to t e ower end .of. the shaft 7, and 8 representsv the casingwhich surrounds the parts.

In Fig. 5, 28 represents the abutment or spindle which limits the upwardmovement of the lower bearing-block; 24,, the chamber I which receiveslubricant under high, pressure fromlthepipe. and passage 42; 2.6represents the pin which prevents the lower bearing-block from rotatingindependently of the base of the bearing-casing,-and 19 the pipes whichdrain the bearing-casing ait'er the oil. or other lubricant passesbetween the bearing-sm'faces.

In Fig. 6 is. shown on an enlarged scalethe means employed to supportthe lower auxiliary bearing-block. 32 re resents the lower block, whiehis separated om the upper by a small space, thel'atter being somewhatexaggerated for purposes of illustration. En-

- gaging the lower endof the supporting-pin 34, which-passes through thebase 22', is the platen 35.

In accordance with .the provisions of the patent statutes I .havedescribed the principle 'ofoperation of my invention, togetherwith the aparatus which I now consider to represent t -e best embodi'ment thereof;but

I desire to have it understood that' the apparatus shown is onlyillustrative and that'the invention can be carried out by other means.What I claim as new, and desire tosecure by Letters Patent of the UnitedStates, is f 1. The combinationoi a movableelement,

abearing-block hydraulically su ported and means for maintaining a fluidfilm between the element urged toward the element, an

and the block. p

2. The combination of a movable element, a casing, a bearing-block,means for maintaining fluid-pressure between the casing and the block tosu port the latter in operative relation to the e ement, and means formaintaining a fluid film to separate and lubricate the element and thefluid-supported block.

3.. In a shaft-bearing the combination of a bearing-block which isattached to and rota table with the shaft, a second block'suitably.

mounted to oppose the first, and a source of hydraulic pressure forurging the second block toward the first.

4. Ina shaft-bearing, the combination of a bearing-block rotating withthe shaft, and a second movable block which opposes the first and issubjected .to a differential fluid-pres sure. v v V 5. A shaft-bearingcomprising relativel rotating bearing-blocks, in combination with asource of pressure which acts differentially on the opposite surfaces ofone of the blocks to move it in a given direction, and a means forlimiting the movement of the block that is moved .bysaid pressure. I

6. A sh ft-bearing comprising relativel rotating bearing-blocks, incombination with a source of fluid-pressure acting differentially on oneof the blocks, and an adjustable means for'limiting themovement of thelast-mentioned block.

-7. In a shaft-bearing, the combination of a bearing-block rotating withthe shaft, a second bearing-blockwhich opposes the first, a

source of, fluid-supply which urges the second block toward the firstand also maintains, a

lubricating-filmbetween them, and an adjustable means for limiting themovement of the second block in the direction of the first.-

- 8. In a'shaft-bearing, the combination of bearing-blocks which arerelatively movable,

there being a chamber located between the blocks, which su plieslubricant to maintain a film between t e blocks, and a means forsupplying fluid, under pressure to move the" blocks toward each otherandalso to supply fluid to the chamber to maintain the said 9'. ashaft-healing, the combination of a bearing-blockrotati ,with theshaft,.a second block opposing t first, there being a chamber formedbetwee'n the blocks, a conduit for conveying fluid from one surface ofthe second block to the other, a means for.

supplying fluid under pressure which urges the second block inone-direction and supplies lubricants to the chamber, and meansior'prev'enting the second block from tum- 0. A; shaft-bearingcomprising relativsl moving bearing-blocks, in combination wit a source.of fluld under pressure which normallyur'ges the blocks toward eachother and permits them to separatewhen the pressure on the fluid sourcedecreases below a certain point; t v

1 1. In a bearing of the character described,

the combination of a'bearing block movable with the shaft, a secondblockopposing the base, a means for moving the blocks toward each other, anda means passing through the base for limiting the relative movement ofthe blocks toward each other.

13. In a bearing, the combination of a block attached to the shaft, aloose piston-like U operative -position and also to lubricate the blockwhich opposes the first, a cylinder in which the latter block is movablymounted, a

conduit communicating with opposite sides of the piston-like block, ameans for supply-- ing fluid under pressure to the cylinder, and

an abutment for limiting the position of the piston-like block.

14. In a bearing, the combination of a block attached to. the shaft, apiston-like block. which opposes thefirst, a cylinder in whichthe block.is mounted-,a conduit communicating with opposite sides of thepistonlike block, a means for supplyi-n fluid under pressure to thecylinder, an aIiutment for limiting the position of the piston-likeblock, and a means for adjustin the abutment.

. 15. In a shaft*bearing,t e combination-of a bearing-block attached tothe shaft, a casing therefor containing a cylinder, a secondbearing-block which is loosely mounted within the cylinder and is guidedthereby, and a means for supplying fluid under pressure to the cylinderfor moving the. second block into engagement with the first.

16. In a shaft-bearing,the combination of a bearing-block attached tothe shaft, a casing therefor, a guide-bearing carried by the easing andengaging the shaft, a detachable base for the casin which contains acylinder, a bearing-bloc mounted within the cylinder and movable towardor away from the shaft, a conduit in the block for conveying lubricatingfluid; from one surface to the other, and means for supplying lubricantunder pressure to move the second. block into surfaces.

17. Ina bearing of the character described, a

the combination of relatively movable bearing-blocks, there being achamber formed between the blocks, which receives lubricant, a hydraulicmeans for moving the lower block, a spindle. which controls the movementof the lower block and is located in line with'the axis of the shaft,gearing for adjusting the spindle, and a conduit supplying fluid under,

pressure for moving the lower block.

18. In a bearing of the character described,

the combination of a casing, a guide-bearing carried thereby andengaging the shaft, an

upper bearing-block attached to the end'of the shaft, a piston whichforms a bearingblock, the said blocks forming a step-bearing, a cylinderfor the piston formedin the casing,

a means which receives exhaust lubricant from the step-bearing anddischarges it into the guide-bearing, and a source of fluid-suply whichelevates the piston and supplies ubricant to the step and guide bearing19. A hearing comprising relatively movable-bearing blocks, incombination with an auxiliary bearing-block which comes into serviceunder abnormal conditions.

20. A bearing comprising relatively movab e main bearing-blocks, incombination into service under abnormal conditions, a

with an auxiliary bearing-block which under abnormal conditions engagesthe block of larger diameter. r

22. In a bearing, the combination of a main bearing-block with a'pair ofbearingblocks located concentrically one within the other for engagementwith said main block.

23. In a bearing, the combination of a bearing-block, a secondbearing-block opposing the first and of smallar diameter, and anauxiliary block which under abnormal conditions engages the first blockon a surface surrounding the second blocks 24. In a bearing, thecombination of a main bearing-block, a second bearing-block opposing thefirst, an auxiliary bearing-block which under abnormal conditionsrelieves the second block'of its'load, and means for causing successiveengagement of the second and auxiliary blocks.

a 25. In a bearing, the combination of a main bearing-block, a secondbearing-block opposing the first, an auxiliarybearing-blockwhich underabnormal conditions relieves the second block of its load, and a'fluidpressure means which normally holds the first block out of workingrelation with the auxiliary block.

26 In a "bearing, the combination. of a main bearing-block, a secondbearing-block opposing the first, an auxiliary bearing-block which underabnormal conditions relieves the second block of its load, mechanism foradjusting the auxiliary block, anda means for normally sustaining thesecond bearingblock in working relation with the first, and

the latter out of working relation 'with'the auxiliary block.

27. In a step-bearing, the combination of relatively movable mainbl0cks, an auxiliary block for relieving one of the main blocks underabnormal conditions,.a casing for the blocks, a platen located outsideof the casing for adjusting the auxiliary block, a spindle passingthrough the casing for regulating the position of one of the mainblocks, and means which urge the main blocks toward each other.

28. In a step-bearing; the combination of relatively movable mainblocks, an auxiliary block. for relieving'one of the main blocks underabnormal conditions, a casing for the blocks, a sleeve or extension onthe under a side of the casing, ameans for adjusting-the auxiliaryblock, which is mounted on the sleeve a spindle for regulating theposition of one of theblocks which passes through the I sleeve, and anadjustin -nut -on the spindle, which engages theend the sleeve.

29. In a step-bearing,the combination of relatively movable main bearing-.blocks, means for moving the blocks toward each. other, an auxiliaryblock, a casing for the blocks, havin a screw-threaded sleeve thereon, anut on t e sleeve for adjusting one of the bearing blocks, a screwthreaded spindle which passes through the sleeve for regulatthe movementof one of the main blocks, and a nut on the spindle for adjusting it,which I engages the end of the spindle.

j 30. In a step-bearing, the combination of relatively movable mainbearing-blocks, .me'ans for 'moving the blocks towardeachother, anauxiliary bearing-block, a casingfor the blocks, a sleeve carried by thecasing, and adjusting devices for the blocks, which are supported'by thesleeve.

" 31. In a step-bearing, the combination of relatively movablemain"bearing-blocks, an

auxiliary block, means for supplying lubricant to the ,main blocks, andseparate means for supplying lubricant to the auxiliary bearing.

32. In a step-bearing, the combination of relatively movable mainbearing-blocks, an

, auxiliary block, means for supplying lubricant to the main-blocks,separate means for supplying'lubricant to the auxiliary bearing, anda'means which receives the exhaust lubricant from the main and auxiliarybearin s.

33. In a bearing of the character escribed, the combination of mainbearing-blocks, an auxiliary bearing-block, a guide-bearing, a meanswhich receives lubricant from both the main and auxiliary bearings anddischarges it into the guide-bearing, asource of fluid under pressurefor lubricating the main bearing, and a separate source of fluid alsounder pressure for lubricating the auxiliary bearing.

34. In a bearing of the character described,

the combination of mainbearing-blocks, an

seams auxiliary bearing-block, separate sources of fluid under pressurefor lubricatin the main and auxiliary bearings, a guide-bearing, a meanswhich receives exhaust fluid from the main and auxiliary bearings anddischarges it into the guide-bearing, and a collection meanswhich-receives the lubricant after it passes through the guidebearing.

35. In a bearing of the character described, the combination of mainbearing-blocks, an auxiliary bearing-block, a casing which incloses theblocks, adjusting devices for the blocks, which are situated one abovethe otherand below the casing, and gearing for actuating the adjustingdevices.

ing film of lubricant between the opposed surfaces of the blocks.

38-. A shaft-bearing for turbines compris- 'ing a rotating member, mainand auxiliary bearing-blocks which individually are adapted to supportthe said member under difl'erent conditions, means for hydraulicallysupporting the main block, and adjustable means for rigidlysupportingthe auxiliary block.

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand this 2d day of March,1904.

RICHARD H. RICE. Witnesses JOHN A. McMANUs, J12, DUGALD McK. MCKILLOP.

